SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS
A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 12 - JUNE 20, 2006
12 ASTRONAUTICS (GENERAL)
Includes general research topics related to space flight and manned and unmanned space vehicles, platforms or objects launched into, or assembled in, outer space; and related components and equipment.
Also includes manufacturing and maintenance of such vehicles or platforms.
For specific topics in astronautics see categories 13 through 20.
For extraterrestrial exploration see 91 Lunar and Planetary Science and Exploration.
20060014448 Los Alamos National Lab., NM USA
Plasma Transferred Arc Deposition of Beryllium (Preprint)
Hollis, K; Bartram, B; Strom, R; Withers, J; Massarello, J; Jan 2005; 14 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A442194; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA442194; Avail.: Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
The exceptional properties of beryllium (Be) including low density and high elastic modulus, make it the materials of choice in many defense and aerospace applications. however, health hazards associated with Be material handling limit the applications that are suited for beryllium use. Innovative solutions that enable continued use of Be in critical applications while addressing worker health concerns are highly desirable. Plasma Transferred Arc solid freeform fabrication is being evaluated as a Be fabrication technique for civilian and military space based components. Initial experiments producing beryllium deposits are reported here. Deposit shape, microstructure and mechanical properties are reported. DTIC
Aerospace Systems; Beryllium; Deposition; Materials Handling; Plasmas (Physics)
20060014574 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA
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Preliminary Report on Mission Design and Operations for Critical Events
Hayden, Sandra C.; Tumer, Irem; December 2005; 50 pp.; In English Contract(s)/Grant(s): NNA04AA18B; 21-103-06-40-01 Report No.(s): NASA/CR-2005-213472; Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
Mission-critical events are defined in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory s Flight Project Practices as those sequences of events which must succeed in order to attain mission goals. These are dependent on the particular operational concept and design reference mission, and are especially important when committing to irreversible events. Critical events include main engine cutoff (MECO) after launch; engine cutoff or parachute deployment on entry, descent, and landing (EDL); orbital insertion; separation of payload from vehicle or separation of booster segments; maintenance of pointing accuracy for power and communication; and deployment of solar arrays and communication antennas. The purpose of this paper is to report on the current practices in handling mission-critical events in design and operations at major NASA spaceflight centers. The scope of this report includes NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), with staff at each center consulted on their current practices, processes, and procedures. Author
Mission Planning; Orbit Insertion; Launching; Parachute Descent; Sequencing; Solar Arrays; Accuracy; Deployment
20060015025 Air Force Historical Studies Office, Washington, DC USA
High Frontier. The U.S. Air Force and the Military Space Program
Peebles, Curtis; Jan 1997; 87 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A442844; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA442844; Avail.: CASI: A05, Hardcopy
The USA military space program began at the end of World War II when a few people realized that space flight was now achievable and could be employed to military advantage. Science and technology in the form of advanced radar, jet propulsion, ballistic rockets such as the V-2, and nuclear energy had dramatically altered the nature of war. Army Air Forces Commanding General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold wrote in November 1945 that a space ship 'is all but practicable today' and could be built 'within the foreseeable future.' The following month the Air Force Scientific Advisory Group concluded that long-range rockets were technically feasible and that satellites were a 'definite possibility.' The U.S. Navy also expressed interest in space flight. In November 1945 the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics produced a satellite report, and, on March 7, 1946 proposed an interservice space program. The idea was presented to the joint Army-Navy Aeronautical Board on April 9. Major General Curtis E. LeMay, the Director of Research and Development for the Army Air Forces, however, viewed space operations as an exclusive Air Force domain, and he ordered an independent study. DTIC
Military Operations; Military Technology; Space Flight; Space Missions; Space Programs
20060015026 National War Coll., Washington, DC USA
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Space Control Policy: A Case for 'Reaching Out and Touching'
Owen, Mark H; Apr 28, 1997; 16 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A442845; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA442845; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
The USA needs a contemporary space policy which protects our space assets and preserved our freedom to act in pursuit of our national interests and objectives.
This monograph argues that the US prohibitions against using force on a space asset are based largely upon Cold War biases and also upon elements of the 1967 Outer Space and 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaties which are no longer applicable or no longer serve our interests.
US space policy must change with the new uses of space, introduction of new actors, and evolved geopolitical context.
The US must assure space superiority by having a declaratory policy, capability, and the will to deny a spectrum of potential adversaries the freedom of using space assets and space-derived data. DTIC
Extraterrestrial Environments; Policies
20060015028 Air Force Historical Studies Office, Washington, DC USA
The U.S. Air Force in Space 1945 to the Twenty-first Century
Hall, R C; Neufeld, Jacob; Jan 1998; 202 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A442852; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA442852; Avail.: CASI: A10, Hardcopy
On September 21 and 22, 1995, the Air Force Historical Foundation convened a historical symposium on the USA Air Force's experience in the development of space systems and their military applications. Held at the Andrews Air Force Base Officers' Club, Maryland, the symposium was the culmination of nearly a year-long planning effort headed by a committee chaired by Lt. Gen. Bradley Hosmer, USAF (Ret.). DTIC
Aerospace Systems; Astronautics; Military Technology
20060015195 Surrey Univ., Guildford, UK
Symplectic Attitude Estimation for Small Satellites
Valpiani, James M; Palmer, Phillip L; Jan 2006; 21 pp.; In English Report No.(s): AD-A443061; CI04-1729; AAS 06-113; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA443061; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
In this paper, a novel method for efficient high-accuracy satellite attitude estimation is presented. Symplectic numerical methods are applied to the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm to give the SKF, which outperforms the standard EKF in the presence of nonlinearity and low measurement noise in the 1-D case. Building on this result, a six-state SKF is compared to an EKF of the same order for satellite attitude estimation. Simulation of a standard small satellite mission demonstrates orders of magnitude improvement in state accuracy and preservation of constants of motion. This new method shows promise for improved attitude estimation onboard resource-constrained small satellites. DTIC
Algorithms; Attitude (Inclination); Estimates; Kalman Filters; Numerical Analysis
20060015385 Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA USA
Laboratory Experimentation of Autonomous Spacecraft Docking Using Cooperative Vision Navigation
Friedman, David A; Dec 2005; 99 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A443198; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA443198; Avail.: CASI: A05, Hardcopy
On-orbit, autonomous docking and spacecraft servicing are key areas of research in the defense and civil space communities. This thesis contributes to that effort by developing portions of a testbed and an experimental docking vehicle at the Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory of the Naval Postgraduate School. The testbed was advanced by incorporating a large, flat epoxy surface and an indoor-GPS system into the laboratory framework. The epoxy floor allows a vehicle to emulate the space environment by floating on a nearfrictionless surface representing motion in two dimensions. Pseudo-GPS was integrated into the testbed to allow for independent verification and validation of a vehicle s performance. The docking simulator was developed by integrating computer hardware and attitude sensors into a newly-designed vehicle architecture to support its navigation and control needs. A position and attitude estimator was created to fuse the vehicle s sensor inputs. A control system was designed to allow for position control through eight thrusters and attitude control through the use of a reaction wheel. Finally, experiments of proximity navigation were conducted. One experiment established the versatility of the vehicle s control system by performing a closed loop maneuver. A second experiment successfully demonstrated a complete docking scenario. DTIC
Autonomous Docking; Autonomous Navigation; Navigation; Spacecraft Docking
20060015808 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD USA
Shape Memory Alloy Deployment of Membrane Mirrors for Spaceborne Telescopes
Pollard, Eric L; Jenkins, Christopher H; Jan 2005; 25 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Report No.(s): AD-A443511; No Copyright; ONLINE: http://hdl.handle.net/100.2/ADA443511; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy
The objectives of this research were to develop and refine a shape memory alloy (SMA) modeling approach, the martensite twin reorientation (MTR) subroutine to predict the transient response of a spaceborne membrane optic SMA deployment actuator spine system. In concert with a commercial finite element solver this application supports multidimensional temperature-displacement transient predictions of the shape memory effect (SME) exhibited by SMAs through implementation of a phenomenological constitutive law. The scope of this study was to model the relation of input power magnitude and waveform to stress fields reaction forces and thermal fields for the figure acquisition of a gossamer reflector. Of particular interest is the stress and thermal field history of the polymeric membrane concentrator through the deployment to prevent mechanical and thermal failure as limited experimental or modeling analysis results exists for SMA deployment schemes. Thermal authority over the concentrator was found locally limited to the spine interface. Upon aperture engagement, the integrated model's first excursion cycle frequency excited by all three loading regimes was non-unique, regardless of the preceding temporal character of the spine's response. This tendency suggests a coupling between the structural dynamic designs for deployment and in-service, deployed architectures. Aspects of the deployment sequence warranting further study and issues for tackle to further develop the MTR subroutine are identified. Technology addressed through this thesis research is intended to foster and mature successive large, launch-packaged space vehicle programs.
DTIC Deployment; Membranes; Mirrors; Shape Memory Alloys; Spaceborne Telescopes; Telescopes
20060016025 Toyon Research Corp., Goleta, CA USA
Active Lens: A Mass, Volume, and Energy Efficient Antenna for Space-Based Radar
Grace, Michael; Norvell, Bill; Higgins, Kevin; Gilbert, Michael; Kazemi, Hooman; Jan 2006; 7 pp.; In English; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): F29601-03-C-0048 Report No.(s): AD-A443803; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A02, Hardcopy
Very large, lightweight phased array antenna apertures are highly desirable for space-based ground surveillance and tracking radars since power is limited by the mass efficiency of solar power collection and distribution systems which compete for the limited payload capability of the launch vehicle. This leads to relatively low power density apertures whose power budget can be dominated by the overhead (nonradiated) power used during the receive portion of the radar timeline. We have developed a novel lens antenna concept to meet the extreme demands of next-generation, large-aperture space-based radar with significantly improved electrical and mechanical efficiency. The agile beam design offers better aperture efficiency over the entire field of regard compared with reflector designs and better electrical and mass efficiency than active array designs. The lens contains embedded MMIC modules that have been optimized for low power consumption on receive a significant departure from T/R modules used in airborne radar applications. DTIC
Antenna Arrays; Apertures; Lens Antennas; Mass; Phased Arrays; Space Based Radar
Source: NASA
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